Coupon issuing and record book



May 4, 1954 W. G. M MILLAN ET AL COUPON ISSUING AND RECORD BOOK FiledApril 9, 1952 FIG. 2

MONEY ORDER RATES IIIm.

PURCHASERS macmrr non All can! nmn'm HZTAQHL HELD I l I I I I I I I I IMONEY ORDER RATES MONEY ORDER RMES z 2 F IG.4

. :V v 1 53 29 5 05 M Patented May 4, 1954 COUPON ISSUIN G AND REGORDBOOK William G. McMillan and Caryle L. Michel, St.

Louis, Mo., assignors to Merchants Service Corporation, St. Louis, Mo.,a corporation of Missouri Application April 9, 1952, serial No. 281,416

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to coupon or chec books and consists in novelrecord keeping means.

Heretofore, books of detachable coupons, checks, money orders, and thelike have customarily incorporated a commonly called stub associatedwith each detachable instrument, or a series of pages dispersed atdefined intervals throughout the book, or fly leaves at the ends of thebook for recording data concerning the various instruments issued. Noneof such record means permit the user to open the book in the usualmanner and, while issuing a check, to have simultaneously visible acomplete record of all previously issued checks and the like for readysumming thereof, but, on the contrary, obligate the user to refer to thenumerous stubs or leaves for information as to prior transactions.Furthermore, such means require a durable binding to the book to containthe stubs or leaves for orderly storage purposes.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a coupon or checkbook having associated therewith a sheet for receiving issuance data ofall coupons or checks in the book and which is secured to the book sothat when the book is closed the sheet forms a cover and its datasurface faces downwardly. When the book is opened by reversing thesheet, the data surface faces upwardly with guide lines substantiallyparallel to the lines of the coupons or checks for permitting facileinspection and ready tallying of entries for all previous issuances.

It is another object to provide a single record or account sheet whichis detachable from the book for storage in minimum space when the bookhas been exhausted.

It is a further object to provide, in connection with a singlecomprehensive record or account sheet, duplicate or companion recordsheets for receiving in selected sequence portions of the entries madeon the account sheet, whereby, if desired, the firms upon which thechecks or the like are drawn, may collect periodically the partiallyfilled companion sheets to keep currently advised as to the transactionsunder which they are obligated while the issuing party retains theremainder of the book with a single complete record sheet.

It is another object to provide a coupon or check book which is mostconvenient in use, simple in construction and economically made.

These and other detailed objects will be apparent from the followingdescription and accompanying drawings, in which:

' erably three Figure 1 is a perspective view showing in closed positiona money order book constructed in accordance with and embodying thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the book in open position.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating the account padin more detail.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view illustrating another form ofaccount pad.

For illustrative purposes only, the invention herein is describedprimarily with reference to money order books. However, theapplicability thereof to coupons, checks, and related instruments willbecome apparent.

Referring to Figure l, A represents a money order book comprising amoney order pad I and a slightly shorter record or account pad 2disposed in registration on three of its edges with pad I being inface-to-face relation therewith when book A is closed, wherein the bookis compact and of easily handled size. As shown in Figure 2, pad Iconsists of elongated money orders 3, each of which is conventionallyprinted on one face with the customary blanks 4 formed by lines parallelto the longitudinal axis thereof. Each money order 3 is separatelyconnected at its outer end by a line of perforations 5 to a purchasersreceipt or voucher 6. At the opposite or inner end, each money order 3is detachable by a line of perforations i from a marginal or basesection 8. A metal fastener 9 secures money orders 3 together in padformation.

The record or account pad 2 comprises prefidentical elongatedregistering sheets [0, H, I2, each being detachable adjacent itsnormally inner end by a line of perforation [3 from a marginal or basesection Hi, all

of which sections are secured together proximate their normally upperleft hand ends as by a fastener 15. Each of sheets l0, Ii, I2 isprovided on one face with rulings denoted l6, ll, perpendicular to eachother with rulings ll parallel to the longitudinal axis of accountsheets [0, ll, I2, to produce columns of box-like blank spaces l8arranged in parallel transversely extending series and equal to thenumber of money orders 3 in book A, whereby each such series of spacesI8 may have entered therein one below the other explicit data ofsuccessive money orders issued, such as the date, the amount, the feecharged and the initials of the issuing clerk. Rulings ll cause spacesis in each series to be aligned'in columns, designated l9, which extendsubstantially throughout the length of the sheets H), H, l2 to permitfacile summing of the amounts therein in appropriate footing spaces Padsl, 2 are secured together by a single fastener 20 through the marginalsections 8, I4 adjacent the lower left hand corner of the book. Fastener20 is disposed in :angular or oblique relation to the longitudinal axisof pads l, 2 so that when book A is opened, as by turning pad 2backwardly and outwardly into the position shown in Figure 2, the latterwillswing upwardly away from the plane of pad I and then downwardly to aposition with its longitudinal axis at right angles to the longitudinalaxis-of pad I.

By creasing pad 2 along a. relatively extended fold line 2|,substantially parallel to the length of fastener 29, account pad 2 will,when the book A is opened, naturall assume a position perpendicular to,but approximately co-planar with, pad I and columns is will be presentedfor ready summing of the various figures therein with a record of all.previous issue-noes fully visible. By means of the single point ofattachment of pads I, 2 to each other at the normally lower corner ofthe book A, pads l, 2 will be in register when the back is closed andcolumns It will be axially parallel to blanks 4, and will be in normalrelation when in opened position so that columns I9 will be normal toblanks 4.

As disclosed in Figure 3, there is interposed between the account sheets20, H a sheet of carbon paper 22 whereby copies can be made of theentries on the sheet ID. Until account sheet H has been removed from pad2, it will receive all copies of the entries, with sheet i2 remainingunused. Thus, with carbon paper 22, only one duplicate can be made ofeach record entry. If sheet I! is not detached prior to the exhaustionof money orders 3, sheet II will provide a comprehensive duplicaterecord. However, if sheet ii is removed prior to the exhaustion of moneyorders 3, sheet ll will perforce contain only a record of alltransactions up to the time of its detachment, which will thereby causesheet 12 to come into contact with the carbon paper 22 to receive copiesor all subsequent entries. In this case, sheets H, i2 will coniunctivelyprovide a complete duplicate record.

In use, the issuing agency, such as a retail establishment and the like,will retain sheet I with the original entries thereon as its permanentrecord while the drawee firm will preserve copy receipts H, l2 for itssimilar purposes. In order to be advised relatively currently as to theextent of the transactions made by the issuing'agency, the drawee firmmay collect sheet II when the book A has been partially used and at alater date, when all the money orders 3 have been sold, collect sheet [2as complementary record.

Upon issuance of the last money order 3, sheet [0 may be detached alongthe line of perforation [3 from book A which, at that juncture, consistsof the connected, stub-like marginal sections t and :4, whereby thesingle, fiat, record sheet provided may be suitably filed or otherwisestored. 1

Another form of account pad 2' is shown in Figure 4 and comprisesaccount sheets H-, l2, which are similar in all respects to sheets Iii,ii, i2, respectively, described above, and are joined together and topad I in like manner. Interposed between sheets H, l2-is a sheet ofcarbon paper 23 for transmittal to the normally bottom sheet ii ofcopies of all entries made on sheets 10 or II. In using pad 2, theissuing agent will retain sheet 12 as its permanent record and theservicing or drawee firm will retain original entry sheets l0, II, forits record purposes. Since sheet II will remain unused while sheet 10'is attached to pad 2', it will only have entered thereon records oftransactions oc curring subsequent to the removal of sheets 10. Thus,the use of two original entry sheets I0, I I, permits the servicing ordrawee firm to have the original entries for its records and permits thelatter to maintain reasonably current accounts without having to awaitthe exhaustion of money orders 3.

Pads 2, 2' provide permanent records for both the issuing agency and theservicing or drawee firm, obviating the necessity of laborioustranscription from one record to another, while most importantlyallowing each to keep currently informed as to the extent oftransactions. It is evident that the number of sheets in each of theaccount pads 2, 2' could be varied to suit the purposes of theparticular type transaction in question so that by providing additionalaccount sheets, the servicing or drawee firm could obtain records oftransactions at relatively shorter intervals throughout the life of bookA.

The present invention is adapted for booklets containing instruments ofdifferent character than money orders, such as coupons, checks, bills ofexchange and the like. For example, with the typical bank check book theaverage individual depositor uses, a single sheet, such as sheet H),could be affixed to the pad of checks for outward folding in the mannerdescribed, to provide a convenient surface for receiving data concerningeach withdrawal, which sheet could be retained by the depositor inminimum space for future reference.

The details of construction may be varied without departing from thespirit of the invention and the exclusive use of those modificationscoming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

l. 'A multiple book-like assembly comprising a first pad ofcheck-forming sheets and a second pad of record-forming sheetssuperimposed on the first pad, said pads having edges substantially inregister, means adjacent one of the corners formed by said edgespermanently assembling all of said sheets, the sheets of the first padbeing perforated to form end marginal portions adjacent said corner andto form detachable checkforming sheets provided with a plurality ofguide lines for aiding the user in writing names, dates and the amountson the normally upper faces of the sheets, the sheets of the second padhav-, ing guide lines on the normally lower faces of the sheets foraiding the user in writing records of the items written on saidcheck-forming sheets, a duplicating sheet in the second pad intermediatethe last two of the sheets, the outer sheets of the first and secondpads providing covers for the assembly when it is closed, the sheets ofthe second pad being swingable upwardly and then downwardly from theplane of the sheets of the first pad about an oblique fold line adjacentto said securing means to reverse the direction of the sheet faces,whereby the guide line bearing faces of the upper check and recordsheets are exposed simultaneously for inscription purposes.

2. A multiple book-like assembly comprising a first pad of elongatedcheck-forming sheets and a second pad of elongated record-forming sheetssuperimposed-on the first pad, an elongated edge and a shorter edge ofone pad being substantially 5 in register with corresponding edges ofthe other pad and disposable so that said elongated edges may be termedthe bottom edge of the assembly and said shorter edges may be termed theleft hand edge of the assembly, means adjacent the lower left handcorner of the assembly when so disposed permanently securing all of saidsheets together, the sheets of the second pad being swingable upwardlyand then downwardly about a fold line extending diagonally across saidcorner adjacent to said securing means to a position in which the facesof the sheets of the second pad, presented downwardly when the assemblyis closed, are reversed and face upwardly when the assembly is opened,the sheets of the first pad having guide lines on their upper facesextending lengthwise of the sheets and the sheets of the second padhaving guide lines on their lower faces extending crosswise of thesheets and the guide assembly is open to facilitate entries on theupwardly facing sheet of each pa-d.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 401,948 Harsha Apr. 23, 1889 1,336,804 Allen Apr. 13, 19201,459,702 Cott June 19, 1923 2,442,269 Gromer May 25, 1948 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 527,730 Great Britain Oct. 15, 1940

